Worldwide WGA outage... Vistas invalidate ​themselves..​.

I wonder if MS will get rid of WGA after this...

If you have vista and go on a page that asks for a genuine advantage validation it looks like your copy will get invalidated. this sucks

maybe it's time for MS to drop the useless activation and WGA. for the cost of a little more piracy (that never hurts) they'd prevent paranoid users from moving to other platforms and help their public image, especially now that this mess happened and that everybody's going to know about it.

P.S. Coincidentally tonight I dreamed that MS did something to WGA to simulate a disservice in order to have an excuse to close genuine advantage in order to increase their marketshare in third-world countries that live upon piracy. (well the dream (or should I call it nightmare since I dreamed of endless people calling me to reinstall XP [C]) was more complex but that part was really there :O)

http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=337083

Only if your copy is not previously validated. A fix is expected by Tuesday.

But with WGA you get Genuine Advantage!

I've always had a problem with the nomenclature WGA. After forking out the amount of money I have for an OS, don't patonise me and tell me that I've an advatange over illegal copies of the Windows OS, especially if I've no access to the aforemetioned features which kicked of this thread.

MS need to remember that they charge a fortune for their OS's and the applications they offer as WGA are the least I'd expect, from a pecuniary aspect. They really ought to be ashamed of themselves for this problem, and saying things like "I won't sleep" sound good, but one knows that ones own judgement is impaired as a consequence. The Genuine Advantage here is lots of sleep for a clearer mind and better decision making!

TommyCarlier wrote:

But with WGA you get Genuine Advantage!

after this they'd better rename it Windows Genuine Annoyance

blowdart wrote:

Hmm, I assume they won't try the WGA nonsense on Win2007 Server will they?

Debateable.

OGA/WGA was created to prevent the "casual piracy" you get with dodgy OEMs not licensing Windows properly and friends copying software for other friends. It may have a slight effect on warez (i.e. those who do piracy and are unaffected by DRM and the like).

But Windows Server machines aren't made by your dodgy OEM, there's no consumer market and only businesses and developers really need it.

I know there are cases of dodgy ISPs using unlicensed copies of Windows Server for dedicated and shared hosting servers, but these are in the minority and the BSA typically gets involved in these cases.

But such as it is, Microsoft has never done squat against warezed installations of Windows Server 2003, not once since it went RTM. There was no product-key revokation in SP1 or SP2.

Given this attitude, I don't think we'll see WGA on Windows Server any time soon.

What's the word on Vista Aero Glass being on Server 2008 btw?

W3bbo wrote:


What's the word on Vista Aero Glass being on Server 2008 btw?

I think I saw an option in Server Manger to install "Advanced Themes" or something.

I booted in Vista just now, checked for updates. The system was taking very long to find any and eventually gave me an error message.

Now I get a message that I have to install an update before I can continue with searching for updates. Would this be an invite for the WGA annoyance messages?

ZippyV wrote:



I booted in Vista just now, checked for updates. The system was taking very long to find any and eventually gave me an error message.

Now I get a message that I have to install an update before I can continue with searching for updates. Would this be an invite for the WGA annoyance messages?

if you haven't updated vista in the last few months it's normal, there has been an hotfix for windows update.

I'm having Process Explorer on standby. Wish me luck...

Installed updates and rebooted: valid,
Went to Microsoft's "Is this copy of Windows legal" site: valid,
Downloaded Powershell requiring validation: valid.

yman wrote:



W3bbo wrote:  What's the word on Vista Aero Glass being on Server 2008 btw?

I think I saw an option in Server Manger to install "Advanced Themes" or something.

Why would you want Aero glass on a server?

evildictaitor wrote:

Only if your copy is not previously validated. A fix is expected by Tuesday.

Some folks have said that their legal copies of Windows have been invalidated by this. By and large, I'd say that unless you absolutely have to run the gauntlet by installing updates or downloading software from Microsoft that requires WGA validation, you don't do anything until they give the all-clear.

It seems, based on what's been posted to Microsoft's forums, they really don't have a clue as to what the underlying problem is. In the end, whoever is responsible for this fiasco needs to be taken out behind the barn.

Chinmay007 wrote:

Clearly, everyone is uses Windows is a pirate. I'm glad Microsoft finally found a way to prove it.

Still better than being a ninja. Ahrrr!

mstefan wrote:



evildictaitor wrote: Only if your copy is not previously validated. A fix is expected by Tuesday.

Some folks have said that their legal copies of Windows have been invalidated by this. By and large, I'd say that unless you absolutely have to run the gauntlet by installing updates or downloading software from Microsoft that requires WGA validation, you don't do anything until they give the all-clear.

It seems, based on what's been posted to Microsoft's forums, they really don't have a clue as to what the underlying problem is. In the end, whoever is responsible for this fiasco needs to be taken out behind the barn.

It's not affecting updates - it seems to be only the first time WGA server that is affected.

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:



Chinmay007 wrote: Clearly, everyone is uses Windows is a pirate. I'm glad Microsoft finally found a way to prove it.

Still better than being a ninja. Ahrrr!

What!? Heresy!! Fly my ninja robot monkeys! FLY! KILL him AND his wench!!!